The Solution to Doubt
Titles tell you a lot about a person.
In the 1500s, there was a ruler in Russia named Ivan — the first to officially take the title of Tsar. Ivan’s reign started well, but after experiencing betrayal and the death of his wife (which he believed was caused by poisoning), he became deeply paranoid.
In his insecurity, he created a reign of terror. He unleashed a group of masked horsemen who rode through towns arresting, torturing, and executing anyone he suspected of disloyalty. “Ivan the Terrible,” as he came to be known, even ordered the massacre of the entire city of Novgorod because he believed they were plotting against him.
I was listening to a podcast a few weeks ago where one of the hosts shared that in elementary school he was known as “Bird Poop Kelly.” On a field trip, he leaned against a railing that had fresh bird poop on it — a decision he regretted for many years.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be named by my worst day. If anyone relates to that sentiment, it’s certainly Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus. While we don’t get much about Thomas in Matthew, Mark, or Luke’s Gospel accounts, John gives us the story Thomas is famous (or infamous) for.
Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples. In John 20:19–23, Jesus shows up in the flesh to prove that He had truly risen from the dead. Unfortunately for Thomas, he wasn’t there. A week later, Jesus appeared again — specifically to show Thomas that the resurrection was real. Even though Thomas had doubted and said he would have to see it with his own eyes to believe,
Jesus didn’t show up to scold him. Jesus came to be the answer to Thomas’ doubt. And I believe that’s so important for us to understand: The true solution for doubt in our lives is found in the person of Jesus. When we face doubt, we can have assurance when we encounter the truth of Jesus and live in His power.
The first thing I notice is Jesus’ response. Jesus shows up right in the middle of Thomas’ doubt — just like He does for us. But I love that He doesn’t just show up. Verse 26 tells us He brings peace. When you face doubt, Jesus doesn’t arrive with anger, judgment, or wrath. He appears and says: “Peace be with you.”
First Corinthians 14:33 reminds us:
“Since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”
Our enemy wants to wrap us in anxiety. He wants to overwhelm us with doubt that causes us to tremble. But Jesus shows up to bring peace — peace in the midst of a world that feels so uncertain.
Jesus doesn’t just bring peace. He brings proof. He shows Thomas the wounds in His hands and His side. And the proof of Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t just for Thomas. The resurrection changed history. Our belief in it — or rejection of it — is the most important decision we will ever make.
The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is overwhelming.
Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette said:
“Although a mystery which cannot be dissipated rests on the manner of the Resurrection, the fact of the Resurrection can no more be brought into doubt by honest historic evidence than the assassination of Caesar.”
Alfred Edersheim added:
“The Resurrection of Christ may unhesitatingly be pronounced the best established fact in history.”
Henrich Ewald wrote:
“Nothing is more historically certain than that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared again to His followers.”
And John A. Broadus said:
“If we do not know that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead, we do not know anything historical whatever.”
Jesus, who fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament, who performed countless miracles, and who predicted his own death and resurrection, is the head-spinning, overwhelming proof of God‘s love. Jesus‘s resurrection is the indisputable proof of God‘s grace. Jesus‘s resurrection from the dead is the overwhelming proof of God’s power, mercy, and goodness to you and me.
And when we have doubts, we can go back to the empty tomb. It is there that our faith is made concrete and strong.
There are those who may try to discount the story of the resurrection of Jesus, but every theory that tries to explain away his resurrection begins with an empty tomb.
There are those who argue that the disciples stole the body. Which doesn’t make sense because these weren’t guys plotting and planning; these were guys who were hiding. Look at the evidence in the story: they didn’t believe Jesus was risen from the dead until he appeared to them. It’s not like they were trying to be the first to claim that they had seen him.
Others argue that all of Jesus‘s followers had some kind of trippy dream after smoking some bad weed or something. A trippy dream that they would all die for? A trippy dream that they would be willing to give up everything for? How many bad drug experiences have you had in your life that you would be willing to brutally suffer for?
Of course, there are those who will say that the women who went to the tomb just were bad with directions, and while this is obviously sexist, it doesn’t make sense that the governing powers of the Roman Empire would not just march them down to the place where Jesus’s body still lay.
Jesus’s resurrection is powerful proof in the midst of our doubt. Are you doubting that God is good? Jesus is resurrection proves that God is good enough to save the whole world. Doubting that God loves you he loves you enough to send Jesus. Doubting that God can forgive? Jesus is the proof of God‘s forgiveness. Are you doubting God‘s promises? Jesus fulfilled every promise and prophecy about himself, including his own that he would rise from the dead. Are you doubting that God can do the impossible let me show you the empty tomb!
The answer to our doubt is Jesus! The reason we believe is Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
The second thing I noticed in John 20, is the repo of those who had seen this truth. Thomas didn’t just see Jesus risen and go. Oh that’s cool…. NO! Experiencing Jesus changed everything for Thomas.
Thomas went from doubting to living every second for Jesus from then on. The proof of Jesus’s resurrection led Thomas to preach the gospel in India, where he died in 72 A.D. As Thomas knelt in prayer, a spear was driven through his back. What time is experienced in John chapter 20, was something that would change the rest of his life.
While we don’t get to see Jesus in the flesh (yet at least) Jesus does mention us here in this passage. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” - John 20:29 (CSB) Though we have not seen him, we are blessed to believe. That he really did rise from the dead. We are blessed with this blessed assurance, no matter what doubts we might face.
